Surviving Khobar Towers: An Airman’s Story

President Bill Clinton shakes 1st Lt Michael Harner’s hand during a visit with the survivors of the Khobar Towers attack at Eglin Air Force Base, July 4th, 1996. President Clinton asked those at the memorial service including Secretary of the Air Force Shelia Widnall and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Ron Fogleman to praise the American heroes, who gave their lives in service to America. (Courtesy Photo)

Colonel Michael Harner, 377th Mission Support Group commander, speaks to Team Kirtland about his experience at Khobar Towers, May 25th, 2017. Col. Harner gave resiliency advice to team members present. (U.S. Air Force Photo/Senior Airman Chandler Baker)

June 25, 1996 at 10:15 p.m. A large truck pulls into a
parking lot across the fence line from the military housing complex known as
Khobar Towers in near Dhahran, Saudi Arabia. Col. Michael Harner, then a lieutenant, had just
returned to his quarters from a run.

Standing on the balcony, he looks out and sees the truck.
Returning to his room, he shuts the sliding glass door and draws the curtains.
He sits with the room’s phone in his hands, debating on whether to call
security police and report the truck. Seconds later, bright light floods the
room and the building shakes violently. Harner had only been on active duty for
two years and this was his first deployment, but it changed his life forever.

“Khobar Towers was the number two terrorist target in the
world at that time,” said Harner, 377th Mission Support Group commander. “Back
then, it meant something totally different than it does today because when you
heard of terrorist attacks, it was nothing like now when you hear of the
attacks that happen around the world. The last time there was a major terrorist
attack on a military installation was Beirut in 1983.”

After the explosion, Harner called out for help but could
not hear a sound. Covered in blood, he made his way around his room, attempting
to turn on light switches to no avail. After collapsing in the stairwell of his
building, he was discovered by explosives ordnance disposal Airmen and carried
out of the building on a door being used as a makeshift skid.

Harner’s recovery was highlighted by meeting President Bill
Clinton at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, days after returning to his home
station of Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Even before the Air Force started
using the Comprehensive Airman Fitness program, Harner had all four pillars
aligned with himself.

“I was the only Airman from Whiteman that was medevaced back
to the states,” Harner said. “The support network coming back to the states
helped provide faster recovery. My recovery stems from my faith as a Christian.
My family supported me, too. I struggled with crowds and loud noises. I
returned stateside two days before the 4th of July and I had no desire to be
anywhere close to fireworks.

Harner said at that time, the military didn’t quite
understand the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.

“I’ll be the first to admit that I had PTSD when I came back,”
Harner said. “I would wake up every night with the same nightmares. But having
the support network of family and having the physical, spiritual, mental, and
social resiliency really aided in my recovery.”

Harner recently spoke with members of Team Kirtland about
his experience. During the presentation, he showed photos of Khobar Towers
after the explosion and of his recovery.

“I took this stance where if I were to talk about what
happened and if it would help someone else in a similar situation to cope or
relate, that’s the stance I took going into it,” Harner said. “At the time in
the hospital in Saudi Arabia, I told my wife over the phone, ‘I’m done, that’s
it. Been there, got the T-shirt, I do not want to be in the military anymore.’
Then I got back, had several good friends and mentors, and realized you
shouldn’t make rash decisions based on an emotional event.”

Harner leaves a piece of advice to all Airmen going through
tough times.

“You’re not weak for asking for help,” Harner said. “Just
because you had an experience that someone may not fully be able to relate to
does not mean that there aren’t people out there who want to help. Don’t go at
it alone.”